Untitled, from the series "The Marine Machine"

Contact sports play a central role in forging bonds among Marine recruits. In this photograph, William Mares captured a pair of young recruits intertwined during a football match, their faces hidden among the commotion of the game. Twisting and grappling, the two men blend into one: the first charges, lifting the other’s leg to destabilize him; his comrade retaliates by wrapping his arms around his opponent’s neck so that they fall together. In this and the other images from his photo essay The Marine Machine, Mares demonstrates how this dynamic, in which competition is as fierce as it is friendly, helps build a military collective.